Fire extinguisher



bec. m, 1932.

|H. C. LAENG FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed March 1'7.

Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE `HIli.1\Il`.\.I CHARLES LAENGEL, F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETE ANONYME ASSURO, -OF PARIS, FRANCE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Application led March 17, 1930, Serial No. 436,576, and in France March 23, 1929.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishers of the jet type, and chiefly to apparatus in Which the liquid is projected by means of compressed gas contained in a receptacle, saidy liquid being sprayed before reaching the lire, in such manner as to form a cloudy substance adapted to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. Such apparatus consist as a rule of a recipient of elongated form, having a discharge orifice atone end, and they are placed in action by holding the recipient in the vertical position with the orilice downward, and by directing the 'extinguishing jet or stream upon a solid obstacle situated near the lire. The stream thus breaks upon the obstacle, and forms the spray or cloud which it is desired to obtain.

However, such material conditions cannot be obtained in all cases, and thus attempts were made to produce, instead of a liquid stream, a spraysuch as is supplied by atom- 'izers, hence substituting for the discharge orifice of the apparatus a certain number of holes of smaller diameter, but by this disposition the force of the jet and the active range of the apparatus are much reduced.

Among other drawbacks inherent in the extinguishers employing a stream of compressed gas, it has been observed that in virtue of the great density of the liquid employed and of the length of the recipient, the impelling force of the column of liquid is such that it prevents the gas from rising to the top of the apparatus; the gas thus remains at the lower part of the recipient and mingles with the liquid, only a portion of which is expelled from the apparatus. Furthermore, it frequently happens that the liquid will leak through the coupling member carrying the nozzle, and if the apparatus remains out of use for a certain time, a greatpart of the active element will be thus discharged.

Another cause of prejudice to the -`apparatus is the clogging of the discharge orifice 45 by foreign bodies. For instance, in the case of extinguishers Which are installed in factories, these apparatus may be affected by the introduction of metallic or other particles from operations -such as sawing, filing 50 or other machine work, and thus when the apparatus is to -be put in use it will operate in a defective manner or may fail altogether. To obviate such drawbacks, it has been proposed to cover the discharge orifice by a rubber cap or the like, but after a relatively short time the said cap becomes altered and deteriorated, and will afford practically no protection.

It should be further remarked that it is hardly possible, at first sight to distinguish a new apparatus from one that has already been used, and especially When the latter has not been entirely emptied after it is employed. F or this reason, serious mistakes may occur when the apparatus is to be put in use.

These several drawbacks naturally offer prejudice to the eiliciency and reliability which are the essential factors of a fire extinguishing apparatus. The present invention relates to combined improvements by Whichvall such drawbacks will be obviated, and which will afford an apparatus adapted for a ready use and operating in an effective and reliable manner.

One ofthe said improvements consists essentially in the disposition, in the discharge conduit of the liquid under pressure, of sharp-edged Walls or ridges, against which the liquid is directed in such manner that it will be mechanically separated Iinto minute drops. This affords a jet or stream which is sprayed by automatic action and Without impact, and which proceeds to a certain distance from the discharge orifice.

Another improvement consists in the use of a tubewvhich is connected to the orifice by which the compressed gas is discharged from the gas recipient, which tube extends to a point near the upper end of the tank, and thus when the apparatus is placed in the Working position, the gas is directed by the tube and rises at once to the surface of the liquid without being obliged to pass through the column of liquid, so that the gas will efectdthe complete discharge of the said iqui Another improvement according to the invention consists in an arrangement offeringleakless condtions for the apparatus, thus obviating all leakage of the liquid before the apparatus is putin service. For this purpose, a solid disk of a plastic substance such as leadis mounted on the inner end of the coupling member carrying the nozzle, and between the hammer and the gas recipient, in suoli manner as to entirely close the orifice of said coupling member, while it may be broken by the action of the hammer when the apparatus is put in use.

The invention further relates to a device which effectively protects the orifice of the nozzle against all foreign bodies, but without prejudice to the discharge of the fluid when the apparatus is in operation. The said device consists of a small shutter or valve which is pivotally mounted on the edge of the nozzle and is so disposed that in the normal or inoperative position of the apparatus, in which it is inverted and is placed vertically, it will be brought against the oritice of the nozzle by its own weight, and thus closes the same, whilst in the operative position, with the top or head downward, said valve will fall below the nozzle under the action of the impact due to the percussion of the gas recipient, and will hence uncover the orifice.

Another improvement consists in the use of indicating means showing whether the apparatus has been put in service, and for this purpose thereis interposed between the external head of the hammer and the neck of the apparatus, an indicating'member consisting of a fragile substance, such as a celluloid ring or the like, and the said ring is broken by reason of the impact upon the head of the hammer when operating the same; the presence of the ring thus shows that the apparatus is intact.

In the accompanying drawing and by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of an eX- tinguislier provided with the improvements according to the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 show on a larger scale, in .vertical section and in plan view, a form of construction of the spraying nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, also on a larger scale, of the operating and projecting head of the apparatus.

Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively in the inoperative and the operative positions, the head of the apparatus provided with the closing device.

The extinguisher comprises, in the known manner, a tank 6 on which is mounted a coupling member 7, provided with a discharge orifice 8; said coupling member is screwed into a socket 9 which is secured to said tank 6 and carries a sleeve 10 containing a small receptacle 11 filled with compressed gas. Said sleeve is pierced with apertures 12'for the flow of the liquid contained in the tank 6. Upon the saidcoupling member 7 is mounted-the hammery 13 which is provided with a head 14 and is held apart from' the re'- ceptacle l1 by a spring 15. 0n the inner end of the sleeve 10 is mounted the striker 16, at a point adjacent the neck of the receptacle 11, and separated therefrom by a spring 17.

According to the invention, to the orice 8 is connected a discharge nozzle l having a V shaped internal annular rib 2, which is situated between the bores 3 and 4 having different diameters and serving as a conduit for the liquid under pressure. The diameter of the bore 3, on the upstream side of the rib 2, is greater than that of the bore 4 on the downstream side 4, opening to the exterior. The rib' 2 is joined to the wall of the upper bore 3 by a surface of revolution whose gen eratrix is the curve -w; this surface ends at the sharp edge of the rib 2.v The other face of this latter may have a tapered shape, and may be joined at a sharp angle to the wall of the corresponding bore. ln the said rib may be provided suitable gaps 5 of V section or the like, as shown in Fig. 3.

On the other hand, to the end of the sleeve 10 is fitted a tube 18 leading to the upper part of the tank 6, and extending above the surface of the liquid in the operating position of the apparatus as shown in the drawing. On the other hand, between the coupler 7 and the sleeve 9 is held a disk 19 of lead or the like which is situated between the hammer 13 and the said receptacle 1l. On the outer part of said hammer is mounted an indicating ring 20 of a relatively fragile substance such as Celluloid, ebonite, etc. At the upper part of the nozzle 1 (Fig. 5) is disposed a small closing device 21, pivoting on an axle 22 soldered or otherwise secured to the said nozzle. In the normal inoperative position of the apparatus, the said closing device 21 remains by its own weight in the vertical position, it being thus in contact with the nozzle 1 and entirely closing itsl l orifice is thus uncovered. If for any reason the pivot of the closing device should be jammed, thus preventing it from turning, it is evident that the pressure of the fluid will amply suffice to repel the said device. At the same time, by the action of the impact, the ring 20 is at once broken, and its disappearance will show that the apparatus has already been employed. The hammer 13, which is moved back with great force, shears off the washer 19 and drives the receptacle 11 against the striker 16, which thus perforates the said receptacle. The compressed gas now escapes through the tube 18, first driving out the liquid in this tube and then flowing freely through it. Thus the gas will directly act with all its energy upon the surface of the .liquid and therefore expels it with force through the orifices l2, as Well as through the opening made in the disk 19 and through the nozzle 8. The stream of liquid is broken up in the nozzle itself, near its orilice, While impinging upon the ridges 2-5. Thus the jet will spread out, and it is sprayed into a Cloud which will proceed for about the same distance to which the stream would have been directly projected.

Obviously, the aforesaid constructions are given solely by Way of example, and they are susceptible of all suitable modifications without departing from the principle of the invention.

I claim:

' A lire extinguisher comprising a substantially cylindrical Water tank, an inner integral sleeve at one end thereof, a compressed gas receptacle adapted to be retained in said sleeve7 a striker carried adjacent the receptacle, means for normally holding the receptacle from the striker, means for bringing the receptacle into forceful engagement with the striker, a tube leading from the sleeve to the opposite end of the tank, the end of said tube being split and bent to engage the side of the tank and thereby centrally dispose the tube, and discharging means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRI CHARLES LAENGEL. 

